Royal Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park has long been one the country's treasures of natural wonders. ‘Chitwan’ means in the heart of the jungle’.This is one of the most popular national parks in Nepal. The park is situated in south central Nepal, covering 932 sq. km. in the subtropical lowlands of the inner Terai. ,lying between two mountain ranges, the Shivalik and the Mahabharat range. This is the flood plain of three rivers, the Rapti, the Reu and the Narayani. The forest is dominated by Sal trees and tall grasses.In the Churia Hills pine trees predominate.The Chitwan National Park is home to at least 43 species of mammals, 450 species of birds, and 45 species of amphibians and reptiles.This is the natural habitat of endangered animals like Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinoceros, gharial crocodile, gaur (the world's largest wild cattle), four species of deer, leopards, wild dogs, fishing cats, leopard cats, python and Gangetic dolphin.The area was known as "Four Mile Forest" and a hunting reserve for big game hunting until 1951. For many years it was the Royal hunting grounds for the Kings and dignitaries of Nepal and therefore was not hunted by the general public. It did however become a favorite spot for big game safari hunters in the late nineteenth and early to mid-twentieth centuries. In 1973 Chitwan became Nepal’s first National Park. UNESCO declared the park a World World Heritage site in 1984. The park has a range of climatic seasons,October through February with an average temperature of 25°C offer an enjoyable climates. From March to June temperatures can reach as high as 43°C. The hot humid days gives way to the monsoon season that typically lasts from late June until September. Rivers become flooded sometime during the season the scenery looks most amazing with unexpected water level. In late January, local villagers are allowed to cut thatch grasses to meet their needs, which offer a better and easy viewing of wildlife to visitors.
Also, between September and November, and February and April, migratory birds and create spectacular bird watching opportunity. While the monsoon rains brings lush vegetation, most trees flower in late winter. The “Palash tree” known as the “flame of the forest” and slick cotton tree have spectacular crimson flowers that can be seen from a distance.The park is now a popular destination for ecotourists and includes canoeing, elephant rides, and guided jungle walks.

Place of Salvation

Muktinath is located in the heart of the Himalayas in the northern region of Mustang. Sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike its shrines are perched on a mountain ridge 3700 m and 3980 m above sea level. Muktinath has been one such holy site, where thousands of devotees flock for attaining the much sought after moksha. Hindus call it Muktichhetra (Place of salvation) & salagramam, It is one of the four religious sites. Many Shaligrams found here are considered by Hindu as incarnation of lord Vishnu and worship them. According to Hindu Myth lord Vishnu turned into Shaligram because of Brinda's Curse. Hindu believes that lord Vishnu got salvation from curse of Brinda (wife of Jalandhar) here. Therefore he is worshipped as Muktinath .
The local name of Muktinath is Chuming Gyatsa, which means hundred springs.Its importance in Buddhism increases because of the fact that Chuming Gyatsa is one of the 24 Tantrik places. Muktinath became hallowed ground for Buddhists when Guru Rinpoche, passing through on his journey to Tibet, left a footprint in the rock. The 84 siddhas dropped their wooden staffs, which grew into a poplar grove, a miracle in an otherwise treeless land. The name of Guru Rimpoche Monastery is situated at left from main entrance gate of Muktinath Temple.The place is great for meditation therefore most of the hermits remain here for years. Buddhists believe that all miseries and sorrows are relieved once you visit this temple.
Brahma lit fire upon water and reconciled the contradictory elements thereby. An eternal flame still burns, reputedly sustained by nothing more than water, stone and earth. Muktinath has been a place of pilgrimage for more than 2000 years. The main shrine of Muktinath is a pagoda - shaped temple dedicated to the Lord Vishnu. The murti is of gold and is tall enough to compare with a man. In the walls around it are 108 waterspouts. It has helped to make this area as center of Tourist attraction. The Jwala Mai temple near by has a spring and an eternal flame fed by natural gas. It is believed that one should visit this temple after completing pilgrimage of four special religious sites in India . That is "Chardham Yatra".For the Buddhists, Muktinath is a place of Dakinis, goddess known as sky dancers and Lord Padmasambhava.
The most suitable time to visit Muktinath is from March to June, as the weather conditions would not be safe enough to travel in other months. The journey passes through many archeological sites and temples.This place is opened through out the year but especially in Rishitarpani, Ram Nawami, and Bijay Dashami thousands of pilgrims gather here to celebrate the festival.

Lumbini Sacred Destination-(The Birth Place of Lord Budha)

Lumbini is a Buddhist pilgrimage site located at the Nepalese town of Kapilavastu, district Rupandehi, near the Indian border. Lumbini is one of four Buddhist pilgrimage sites based on major events in the life of Gautama Buddha. It is the place where Queen Mayadevi is said to have given birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who in turn, as the Buddha Gautama, gave birth to the Buddhist tradition.According to Buddhist tradition, Maya Devi gave birth to the Buddha on her way to her parent's home . Feeling the onset of labor pains, she grabbed hold of the branches of a shade tree and gave birth to Siddharta Gautama, the future Buddha. The Buddha is said to have announced, "This is my final rebirth" as he entered the world. Buddhist tradition also has it that he walked immediately after his birth and took seven steps, under each of which a lotus flower bloomed. Lumbini is in the foothills of the Himalaya. Lumbini has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi temple. Also here is the Puskarini or Holy Pond - where the Buddha's mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he, too, had his first bath - as well as the remains of Kapilvastu palace. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, achieved ultimate awakening and finally relinquished earthly form. Lumbini was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Pilgrimage Attractions of Lumbini:
The Ashokan Pillar - Discovered by the now famous German archaeolgist Dr. Fuhrer, the pillar is the first epigraphic evidence relating to the life history of Lord Buddha and is also the most visible landmark of the garden. The historic importance of the pillar is evidenced by the inscription engraved in the pillar (in Brahmi script). It is said that the great Indian Emperor Ashok visited the site in the twentieth year of is ascendancy to the throne and as a homage to the birthplace,erected the pillar.
Maya Devi Temple- The most important temple at Lumbini is the Maya Devi Temple, which enshrines the traditional site of the Buddha's birth.It a small pagoda-like structure, the image shows MayaDevi , mother of the Lord. Supporting herself by holding on with her right hand to a branch of Sal tree, with newly born infant Buddha standing upright on a lotus pedestal on an oval halo. Two other celestial figures are depicted in an act of pouring water and lotuses bestowed from heaven.
Puskarni-The Sacred Pool: South of the Ashokan Pillar, there is the famous sacred pool- 'Puskarni' believed to be the same sacred pool in which Maya Devi took a holy dip just before giving birth to the Lord and also where infant Buddha was given his first purification bath.
The Buddhist temple: The monastery-of the Buddhist temple is built inside the surrounding complex of Lumbini in the manner of modern Buddhist shrines in Nepal. The prayer hall contains a large image of Buddha. Medieval style murals decorate the walls.

The Holiest Hindu Temple

Pasupatinath temple is one of the most famous temples of Nepal.Its astonishing architectural beauty , stands as a symbol of faith, religion, culture and tradition.Regarded as the most sacred temple of Hindu Lord Shiva in the world, Pashupatinath Temple's existence dates back to 400 A.D.The temple is situated 5 kilometer east of Kathmandu heart, on the banks of sacred Bagmati River. Being one of the most important Hindu temples, this is a center of annual pilgrimage. The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or phallic symbol of Lord Shiva.The two level roofs are of copper with gold covering. It has four main doors, all covered with silver sheets. The western door has a statue of large bull or Nandi, again covered in gold. The struts under the roofs, dating from the late 17th century, are decorated with wood carvings of members of Shiva's family such as Parvati, Ganesh, Kumar or the Yoginis, as well as Hanuman, Rama, Sita, Lakshman and other gods and goddesses from the Ramayana.Pashaputi Temple's extensive grounds include many other old and important temples, shrines and statues. South of the temple is Chadeshvar, an inscribed Licchavi linga from the 7th century, and north of the temple is a 9th-century temple of Brahma. On the south side of Pashupati temple is the Dharmashila, a stone where sacred oaths are taken, and pillars with statues of various Shah kings.In the northeast corner of the temple courtyard is the small pagoda temple of Vasuki, the King of the Nagas. Vasuki has the form of a Naga (snake) from the waist upwards, while the lower parts are an intricate tangle of snakes' bodies. According to local belief, Vasuki took up residence here in order to protect Pashupati. One can often see devotees circumambulating and worshipping Vasuki before entering the main sanctum. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple, that is also known as 'The Temple of Living Beings'.The Pasupatinath area has contained numerous temples, stupa, monasteries, images and inscriptions.The temple is listed in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site list.
Legends:There are many legends describing as to how the temple of Lord Pashupatinath came to existence here. Some of them are :-
The Cow Legend: Legend says that Lord Shiva once took the form of an antelope and sported unkown in the forest on Bagmati river's east bank. The gods later caught up with him, and grabbing him by the horn, forced him to resume his divine form. The broken horn was worshipped as a linga but overtime it was buried and lost. Centuries later an astonished herdsmen found one of his cows showering the earth with milk. Digging deep at the site, he discovered the divine linga of Pashupatinath.
The Linchchhavi Legend: According to Gopalraj Vamsavali, the oldest ever chronicle in Nepal, this temple was built by Supus Padeva, a Linchchhavi King, who according to the stone inscription erected by Jayadeva 11 in the courtyard of Pashupatinath in 753 AD, happened to be the ruler 39 generations before Manadeva (464-505 AD).
The Devalaya Legend:Another chronicle states that Pashupatinath Temple was in the form of Linga shaped Devalaya before Supus Padeva constructed a five storey temple of Pashupatinath in this place. As the time passed, the need for reparing and renovating this temple arose. It is learnt that this temple was reconsturcted by a mediaeval King named Shivadeva (1099-1126 AD). It was renovated by Ananta Malla adding a roof to it.

Nepal Festivals

Nepal is not only the land of mountains; it is also the land of festivals. The rich cultural heritage of Nepal is best expressed in the many large and small festivals that occur throughout the year.The best part about the festivals in Nepal is that all the events are celebrated with the same enjoyment and galore the way it used to be hundreds of years ago when people had no other source of entertainment.There are many kinds of festivals: some honor certain Hindu and Buddhist gods or goddesses, some recreate important events from ancient mythology and epic literature, some mark important times in the agricultural calendar.

Teej: This is a Hindu married woman’s day for her man. This festival is celebrated in August/September. Women clad in beautiful red saris with shining potes (glass beads), singing and dancing is the sight almost everywhere in Nepal during the festival of Teej. On this day women observe a fast and pray Lord Shiva for the long, healthy and prosperous life of their husbands and their families. The unmarried women also observe this festival with unabated zeal with the hope that they will get to marry good husbands. From early dawn, women queue up in the multiple lines in Pashupatinath to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.

Gaijatra: The festival of "Gai Jatra" (the procession of cows) which is one of the most popular festivals, is generally celebrated in the Nepalese month of Bhadra (August-September).This festival has its roots in the belief that the god of death, Yamaraj, must be feared and hence worshipped.

Tihar: This festival of lights that falls between October/November is the second biggest festival . This festival lasts for five days and people worship Laxmi – the Goddess of Wealth. All the houses are cleaned and decorated with the belief that Goddess Laxmi will enter the house that is the cleanest and people lit candles, oil lamps and other lights and the whole place looks illuminating. During the five days, crows, dogs and cows are worshipped and honored with vermilion, garland and delicious food for what they have done in the lives of humans. Crows are regarded as the messenger that brought news even during the times when there were no postmen and no postal services. Dogs are the most obedient animals who guard the house . Cow is also a symbol of wealth in Hinduism and she is also the national animal of Nepal. During Tihar, the Newari community in Nepal also observes Mha puja – a ritual of worshipping one’s own body and life. On this very day, the Newari New Year which is also known as Nepal Sambat begins. The festival ends with Bhai Tika – brothers’ day when his sisters worship him for his long and healthy life to safeguard the lives of his sisters. This is also a gambling time in Nepal as gambling is not illegal during this festival.

Holi: This is the special day of playing the liquid color and dust colour(cinnabar) among the people. The Jubilance observes, splash and smear the colour among each other jubilantly. Nepal Government offers special holiday to this day. The nooks and corners of the metropolis look drenched with colours. Revelers mostly the youngsters walk in the street making groups by playing the colour and all of them look very farce. Also they walk joyously singing the songs and dancing as well in the street. Even the foreigners too join in this group to celebrate the festival. Grand Falgun Purnima fairs take place in most of the reputed junctions of Nepal where thousands of people assemble there on these days to celebrate the festival. But in the southern part of Nepal at Tarai, this festival is observed on the next day after the Hillians’ celebration. There is a very interesting ancient legend regarding to this festival.

Dashain:Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon.

Bagh Jatra: The Bagh Jatra of Pokhara is another cultural baggage brought by Newars from Kathmandu, celebrated in early august. The festival has been celebrated in Pokhara for about 150 years.

Tamu Dhee: Tamu Dhee (also known as Trahonte) is a Gurung holiday (august). Ceremonies are performed to purge the neighborhood of evil spirits and to safeguard one's farm and farm animals from hostile elements. The festival can be observed in Pokhara.

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